That’s my other problem with the NNMS. It’s institutions trying to make it happen. It should be the people making it happen..

Nice to find you atiasrama! thanks for your input.

-M

Good points. I think the issue of this being part of the conversation is problematic because Tracy as the Nevada New Media spokesperson and co-founder has chosen to shun local efforts prior to springing the latest upon the community. It reads like an attempt to take ownership of something she before didn’t care to participate in — as if none of it was good enough. That’s the message I get.

More recently she has dodged at least two public invitations (one above by me, and one by Mike on Twitter) to sit down and chat (okay, Mike’s was going to be broadcast live as a Tallcan episode, which would have been fun, IMO) about all of this, which is all fascinating, especially for somebody who claims to be all about ‘community building.’

I like some of what she’s done as a blogger in Reno (great taste in music, for example) — she and Ryan were the trail blazers in my opinion — and would like to get to know her better in person. If she’s not willing that’s fine, but then the dialectic comes off as empty and insincere, or when there, as full of excuses and rationalizations.

Judging by these comments, the conversation in other words, continues to be for and by the folks who have been and continue to be active participants in Nevada new media efforts — none of whom are formally a part of the summit that claims, essentially, to represent them.

I’m not sure how many more ways all this can be said.

-Bob

Back to outside.in: todays listing has Zeke’s latest article at the very top, then a bunch of rgj stuff, then dullardmush and finally Ryan Jerz. No turd eye on reno, alas.

I do get Outside.in, but honestly it’s borderline useless. When for an entire month or more all I got were links to RGJ stories, I lost faith. They contacted me once about being or knowing of someone who would be a local editor. When I asked how much they were paying, I never heard back. The idea of outside.in was a good one started by a smart guy, but the execution has been atrocious.

Nevada New Media has shown through this brief process to this point that they are out of the loop around here. There are several places where this was already being done, and Tracy knew all about them. She chose to be a non-participant, and even tried to compete with at least one of the best places in town to have a conversation. Her venture failed miserably, and she never joined the other. Now we get a self-promotion vehicle to try to take the conversation away from the places it already lives and thrives, and move it to where her company can be front and center. That’s where one of my beefs is. It has nothing to do with not yet being manifested. If you read what she’s saying, she already knows all there is to know about doing this, but it’s not February yet. Then it will all be perfect. I can’t wait.

Do you all get those “outside.in” email news updates, catered to specific area news??? All the new media people and their postings show up on that ( so far as I can see). I notice Zeke always gets top billing there, though.

So far as this matter of “nevada” “new media” not being functionally inclusive and community building (as envisioned in the vehicle that Tracy is putting out there), that’s because it hasn’t been manifested yet.
That process is organically happening now, with this conversation obviously a part of the creation process.

I, like Bob, am excited. I’m excited that more people are getting interested in new media and its applications (communication, marketing, so much more!). And I’m looking forward to being a part of the teaching, the learning and the discussion. We all win if folks in Nevada become more aware of not only what new media is available, but WHY and HOW to use new media.

I’d like to applaud the Nevada New Media Group for taking the initiative to try to organize an event that helps progress the conversations. But, let’s admit that many things were put together rather hastily, and without a ton of equity from a community that could have REALLY been of a lot of help in the planning process. Probably should not have started promoting the organization or the summit until the board had approved some things, and agreed a bit more on direction, definition, and most importantly, STRATEGY. And part of that strategy would have to be (especially in social media) getting equity from some of the players. And, lo and behold, social media would have facilitated that conversation.

I think that’s really a big part of the issue. There will need to be multiple layers of conversation. It feels as though there is a group that has come in to declare – “we are the new media authority in Nevada!” I know, that was never said in any way or form, but that’s the perception, and perception is reality. Inherently in social/new media are layers of equity, learning, conversation. One of the things I’ve learned from social media is that if you don’t involve the community, credit the community for work already done, or ask the community for input BEFORE decisions are made, the community will rebel against you. I think maybe that’s a PART of the rebellion we’re seeing here.

I agree with my colleagues in that NNM should have more focus on Nevada, involve the community more, and have thought this out a bit more before it was publicized. That’s part of my major pet peeve with new media in general. People jump in, head first, before they fully consider the strategy in doing so successfully. There is a TON of groundwork that needs to be done, and it sounds like NNM rushed some things, and is now answering for it. (BTW – that blogroll is pretty bad. What’s with Verge New Media? They post an update once every 1-3 months, and haven’t posted anything new since August! Bleh! We should be referencing these guys for new media expertise?!?).

But, let’s agree that this thing is now established and we’ll need to work together to make it successful. This thing was NOT ready to go, but it’s going. So, let’s do something to make it right. It’s like when everybody pitched in to make Charlie Brown’s pathetic little Christmas tree into something beautiful.

Bob – I’m in for those beers!

The reason, I presume, everybody is acting all butt-hurt is not because of names, what’s on the blogroll (thanks for updating it, btw) or what the summit is called. It’s unilateral, non-inclusive and, frankly, sanctimonious nature of the organization, however it came about, that claims one thing – Nevada, new media, community building – yet is functionally none of those things, as Jerz and Wolfy have had to painfully point out.

I interpret what others are asking is for this to be more genuinely inclusive. Throwing out to become “involved where they can” is passive-aggressive, ham-handed bullshit. As is coming back with having to clear things with the board – since it’s evident so much has not been up until now.

The fact is, I’m *excited* for the opportunity to hopefully present some things at this event. New media stuff is bouncing around in my head 24-7 and I know for a fact there’s a contingent of folks just in Reno that can themselves rock an event like this.

We NEED an event like this – maybe not this one, but something similar – if for no other reason than for people to learn about these technologies and how they can incorporate them into their lives for whatever reasons they want – work, productivity, promotions, activism, shit talk, whatever.

If I can read and comprehend correctly, I bet we could all hash this out over beers, throw out input and criticism and offer up ideas and ways we can all participate. If this is truly about community building, and exposing one to divergent views, then how about it?

-Bob